Arteta: Players hurting too

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Arsenal players have demanded extra training in a bid to right their poor form, according to midfielder Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners host West Brom on Saturday in 10th place in the Barclays Premier League following last weekend's 2-0 defeat by Swansea at the Emirates Stadium. The situation, not helped by another loss to Olympiacos in midweek, has led to huge frustration among Arsenal fans - and Arteta says the players feel it just as keenly.

He told the Daily Mirror: "People are hurting, people are upset with themselves, the players are angry. I think that's a good thing. It's not like players couldn't care less, they know what they need to do."

He added: "At Arsenal you have a group of players who want to give 100 per cent and that makes things so much easier. I always see that in the dressing room. Always.

"You look at the players' faces, the disappointment, the hurt. They want to put it right. You've got players here demanding and wanting to do extra training. It's in themselves to work harder to put it right."

While Arteta accepts Arsenal have been a long way off their best for some time now, last week's loss to Swansea was particularly tough to take.

"Last Saturday was probably the lowest point, but we hadn't won the last games before and that was disappointing because we'd been on a good unbeaten run but hadn't been winning games," he said.

"You have to look at yourself and then you have to look at the rest of the players. The most important thing is a player's attitude, how you go about your job and the players here take responsibility. We need to win games, it doesn't matter how."